COUNTDOWN: What to know about Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade, even if you aren’t planning to watch it, and Float Dodger 5K

It wouldn’t be West Seattle Grand Parade Eve if Potter Construction didn’t send a photo of their entry – a brightly decorated work truck. Potter is a longtime WSB sponsor and also a parade sponsor; proprietor Gary Potter also is a member of the Rotary Club of West Seattle, which presents the parade. It follows the Float Dodger 5K, presented by West Seattle Runner (also a WSB sponsor) as a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank (not too late to register to run or walk in the 5K!). We’ve been previewing all this all week, and including parking/road-closure reminders in our daily traffic roundups, but here’s one more look at what you should know:

PARADE ROUTE: Southbound on California Avenue SW from Lander to Edmunds.

PARKING RESTRICTIONS: The signs have been up for days and they cover more ground than the parade route, including side streets, for staging and detour reasons. So if you see a no-parking sign, pay attention – starting at 7 am tomorrow, the restrictions are in effect, and if you try to get away with ignoring them, you are at major risk of being towed – the streets need to be clear for safety reasons.

STREET CLOSURE AND PARADE/5K START: California closes south of Admiral fairly early in the morning too, with parade entries starting to arrive and getting directed to their staging zone (entries enter the parade route from three directions, as parade coordinator Michelle Edwards and assistants greenlight them). The route has to be clear by the time the Float Dodger starts at 9:30 am, and participants in turn have to be off the route so the SPD Motorcycle Drill Team can get going around 10:45. The other motorcyclist you’ll see is Jim Edwards, past parade coordinator and current safety/communication leader, checking the route and staying in touch with the ham-radio operators reporting in on how things are looking along the route.

RANDOM THINGS TO KNOW: The parade is an official Seafair-sanctioned event, so near the start of the route, you’ll see some of their seasoned parade personnel helping out (the Seafair Clowns, Seafair Commodores, and Seafair Pirates are in the parade too) … Speaking of which, the Pirates usually fire their cannon multiple times along the way, so even if you’re not on or near the parade route, you’ll hear those blasts …The Seafair Clowns have some sirens and horns too, so they can be kind of loud … Three announcing stations are expected this time – Brian and Christa Callanan at California/Alaska, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle at California/Charlestown, and the West Seattle Eagles at California/Genesee … and there are official watch parties at various businesses on California this time, starting at West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor) and heading southward (including, on the same block, post-Float Dodger, at West Seattle Runner [2743 California SW; WSB sponsor]) … Be sure to cheer for parade honorees riding toward the start – grand marshal Lou Cutler and Orville Rommel Trophy winners Dan and Joanie Jacobs … We’ll have plenty of parade coverage tomorrow – if you’re going, see you there!

oerthehillz July 18, 2025 (9:16 pm)

How do people get picked for the Orville Rommel Trophy? Is there a time for nominating at some point?

WSB July 18, 2025 (9:24 pm)

The Parade Committee handles it. I don’t recall any open calls for nominations in the time that we’ve been doing this (disclosure: we were honored with this award in 2010), but it goes back many years before that!
- Hammer in Hand July 18, 2025 (10:13 pm)
  
  Jim Edwards would the history on this awardand would be able to fill in the blanks

PTSD on Cali July 18, 2025 (10:23 pm)

Why do the pirates have to fire that cannon? It’s got to be against noise ordinances. The blasts are way too loud, especially for those of us who live right on California Ave. It makes many babies and small children cry and scares pets, wildlife, and veterans alike. Not to mention folks with sensory disorders and PTSD (many of whom are veterans). It also shakes the windows and walls, and causes things to fall of shelves. We shouldn’t have to leave our homes every year for this nonsense. Not sure why the pro-military crowd doesn’t seem to care enough about vets with PTSD, and or why they feel the need to prove their “patriotism” with things that go boom. If y’all insist on giving these yahoos permission to fire their painfully loud cannon in residential areas, then please, please, clearly publish the times it will be happening. And for everyone who thinks those of us who are harmed by the pirates should just get over ourselves, I wish y’all a lifetime of tinnitus.

WSB July 18, 2025 (11:32 pm)

The main part of the parade starts from California/Lander at 11 am, and will likely end at the south end of the route around 1 pm. So the cannon blasts would be between those times.
Anne July 19, 2025 (9:44 am)

Parade times are clearly posted -especially on WS Blog -where you’re posting. This parade -has gone on for over 60 years – the Pirates being a major part- tying into Seafair. At least there’s now a warning – if you hear the siren- cover your ears!!! They’re much more judicious in how often they set the cannon off nowadays. its 2 hours on a date posted WELL in advance- time to prepare -I realize you feel folks shouldn’t have to -but there are lots of us that enjoy this “tradition” – which really is momentary – the float usually goes by fairly quickly . I am sorry for ALL who have sensitivity to loud bangs & noises & of course those with ptsd.
Mike July 19, 2025 (11:21 am)

Wishing harm to others is a violation of the terms on WSB, please ban that user and remove their comment.

Pamela July 19, 2025 (11:25 am)

Lol….. I was wondering when the complaining would start. Unless you are following the parade down the Avenue,you may hear the cannon three times out of the two hours of the 8,640+/- hours of the entire year. Perhaps head to the art fair on Alki for a peaceful community activity today.

cannonisloud July 19, 2025 (12:42 pm)

lol at the lack of empathy for people who’ve fought for this country and now live with ptsd. The cannon is unnecessary along with the lol you were wondering when the complaining would start. BRB looking for your compassion.